How many students does it take to make a musical? It takes a village. More than 100 SHS performing arts students’ work will be on display during the performance of Shrek the Musical April 30 through May 3.

The high school’s Theatre Department has been carefully preparing for this musical since last summer, according to play director and theatre teacher Elizabeth Ziegler.

“These kids have worked really hard,” Ziegler said. “I don’t even know how many hours have been spent on audition prep, auditions, set design, prop design, and then every weekend with the
rehearsal process.”

Kyeson Daffern, a junior with the lead role as Shrek, has been working on the production for four months.

“I spend about 14-15 hours a week on the musical,” Daffern said. “Whenever I found out we were doing Shrek, I wasn’t too concerned with it, I just wanted to make sure I had Putnam (in the Fall Musical) down. I really started looking at the script in early January about a month before the musical.”

Assistant Stage Manager Ethan Sires said what most members of the production team said is their favorite part of working on this project.

“The community,” said Sires, who is in charge of major set pieces and the run crew.

Another team member who works behind the scenes is Jeremy Roach, who is a sophomore in the costuming class. He said there’s more to the show than what people may think.

“You only see part of theatre, but there is so much more than just the surface,” Roach said.

Ziegler said her students spend an average of 15 extra hours a week working on this musical, and she can spend up to 30 extra hours after school. She encourages everyone to attend the show.

“If you think you know Stillwater theatre, you don’t know Stillwater theatre,” Ziegler said. “Come to the show.”